Abstract

Achilles Tatius has long puzzled his readers. This study demonstrates how careful attention to Leucippe and Clitophon’s narrative structure, generic discourse, and thematization of interpretation helps us to better understand not only this work but also the genre of the Greek novel. The first chapter shows how the opening frame of Leucippe and Clitophon “frames” the whole of Clitophon’s embedded narration, by rehearsing the novel’s narrative structure and characterizing Achilles Tatius’ strategies for engaging with his literary predecessors. The second chapter situates Achilles Tatius’ approach to closure within that of the genre, revealing the close link between narrative manipulation and narrative closure. In the final chapter, I present an innovative approach to unearthing Leucippe’s perspectives in Clitophon’s narrative; the heroine, I argue, hints at attitudes and experiences that run counter to the expectations of the genre. I conclude by considering the gendered politics of interpreting the novel. This study ultimately contributes to our understanding of Achilles Tatius’ dynamic engagement with novelistic predecessors, Leucippe and Clitophon as a whole, and the genre of the Greek novel.

Committee Chair

Catherine Keane

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Author's Department

Classics

Author's School

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Document Type

Dissertation

Date of Award

9-12-2023

Language

English (en)

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